Review of the Year.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4983, 31 December 1884, Page 2

Review of the Year.

The past twelve months have wrought considerable .changes in the Thames and Upper Conntry goldfields, but stilli though several mines which were ex pected to turn out large results have n^t yielded up to expectations, it may fairly f be said, we think, that the prospects off gold mining in the Thames County are* quite as goo 9 d now as in January last.' True, the gold return shows a decrease of some 2000ozs, but it is better than for two years previous to 1883, when the population was larger, and the results from the Karangahake field in the Upper Country, and the; Waiotahi and Karaka districts especially in our own immediate vicinity, point to the existence of a treasury of undeveloped mineral wealth at our very doors, waiting to be discovered by the prospector. The amount paid in dividends during the year (exclusive of Te Aroha) is the respectable one of £19,870, r 0 less than £16,650 of this being disbursed by the New Prince Imperial Co. One of the principal features of the year's work has been the energy displayed in deep level prospecting, and it is also satisfactorily to find that Government is at last recognising (in a somewhat small way, it is true) the importance of these works, and is granting subsidies to the companies carrying them on. The .payableness of our low levels cannot yet be said to have been demonstrated, but all admit that great strides in that direction have been made* during 1884, while to prove faith is still strong in ultimate success, it is only necessary to cite the readiness' with which money has been forth coming to carry on the prospecting drives on the ,640 ft level, to sink the Queen of Beauty-shaft to the 750 ft. level, and still more recently to sink the Saxon shaft- below the 400 ft. level. The excellent gold obtained in the Prince Imperial below the 430 ft. level, is most encourage ing, and though the company has not yet been very successful at 570 ft., the results from the driving hitherto done cannot be taken as a criterion of the character of the lode, as great hopes are held of good dirt being found eastward. The reefs cut in the Caledonian Low Level drives are also very promising, and it would be no sur» prise were payable gold to be found any day, so favorable are the sandstone and mineral indications. The Caledonian, Moanatairi, and Kuranui Hill have not turned out as much gold as it was hoped they would, but all three are prospecting in promising localities. The Deep Level Cross, after several months of unprofitable work, has again struck payable gold near the Saxon, and hope runs high in respect to future operations in this quarter, while the Queen of Beauty shareholders are equally sanguine of the prospects of No. 11 level. The Dart mine has yielded a very fair amount of gold_ during the year, and though hopes are not quite so; high now as twelve months ago, the prospects are very good, especially in relation to the crosscut*at No. 3 level. The Waiotahi mine deserves mention as a steady gold producer, and we.hope before another year to include the Thames Golden Crown (which is about to open up a new section of the mine) in the same category. To compensate for disappointments in some quarters, the Eocky Point and Adelaide claims, Karaka Creek, and the Cambria, Waiotahi Creek, have yielded good returns, and both districts are expected to take a leading position as gold producers during 1885. The great need of the Thames district at present is undoubtedly more legitimate prospecting, and until this is recognised the field is not likely to go ahead. The Caledonian Low Level has set a good example in this respect by following out a definite plan of action. Steps have been taken to urge the construction of a high level water race; this would be of great benefit to the field, but we question whether the money would not be more profitably spent in putting,main tunnels through some of our hills, notably the Fna hill, and extending the Moanatairi tunnel under ihe Alburnia workings; or else in the erection of wire tramways (the usefulness of which has been abundantly demonstrated on other fields) up the various creeks. Prospecting parties should also be organised to try the ranges behind the township, results at Coromandel and the Upper Country proving the Deed of this branch of mining. The outdistricts have shown considerable improvement on the whole during the year. Tapu and Otunui should each yield well in the Goming cycle of time, and at P-uriri also some prospectingisbeingdone. Karangahake has at last taken a prominent place among the Upper Country fields, and with more battery power promises to find employment for a large number of men. Waihi's prospects have likewise improved by careful management, and Owharoa and Waitekauri show signs, of increased activity. The Te Aroha return of gold speaks for itself, but the field's progress is hampered by the want of crushing appliances. Next year, however, this defect will be remedied, and the output of gold will no doubt increase in proportion. The New Find has declared three dividends of Is each, disbursing £3000, and the Colonist one of 6d, distributing £500. Id. conclusiqn, we venture to believe tb,at tb,e coming year will be more prosperous than the one just concluded ; the upper country fields promise to go ahead satisfactorily, settlement is increasing, tfce railway is to be gone on with, and many of the local mines appear likely to yield increased returns. We cannot but deprecate, however, the, carrying on of work in anything butalegitmate manner.- This in the past has dealt a severe blow to our prosperity,,and should begealoasly guarded against. Let a plan of operations be determined on, and let it be carried out in its entirety, thoroughly prospecting the ground in the cheapest and best manner,

India Swill come in, the shareholders lift satisfied, even if the results are not always payable, that their money is being <■ honestly spent in working the ground, and public confidence will be maintained. 1 The following table of returns shows the amounts, obtained by* the chief mines (and tributers in them) ,and from the out- £ lying districts :— "J*^'*~

Adelaide ... ... Do. tributers ... Alburnia tributers ... Bright Smile ; Do. tributers* ... Caledonian .... 4 . ... > Do. .tributers ... Cambria' %t .., ? Dp. tributers ... D^ep Le?el Cross ... Do. tributers ... Kaf angahake Gold field Kuranui Hi 11... " ... Do. tributers ... Mdanatairi ... Do. tributers ... Nev Prince Imperial Otunui Goldfield .... Owharoa Goldfield ... Qu^en of Beauty ... I)o. tributers ... Socjcy Point ... Sundries v Te 4roba Goldfield ... Thatne3 Crown Do. tributers ... Waibi Goldfield ... Waiotahi Waitekauri Goldfield oz. dwt. gr. ... 308 10 0 ... 37112 0 ... 541 2 0 ... 264 0 0 ..; 5 0 0 ... 549 5 0 ... 711 5 0 ... 1326 6 0 ... 1942 13 0 ... 328 19 0 ... 872 9 0 ... 82 5 0 ..; 2770 6; 0 ... 46 5 0 ... '766 4 0 ... 949 .2 0 ... 2049 10 0 11,984 *3 0 ... 411 5 0 ... 253 5 0 ... 26 8 0 ... 3 6 0 ... 316 10 0 ... 7372,16 0 ... 9717 9 0 i ... 1032 1 0 ... 172 5 0 ... 1734 5 0 ... 2518 2 0 ... 491 0 0 ( Total 1. ... 49,917 8 0

-Summary Returns for 1881. -J*